Removal of buffer wall in Cypriot capital ‘of great symbolic significance’ – UN envoy

The top United Nations envoy in Cyprus today warmly welcomed as “of great symbolic significance” the removal by Greek Cypriots of a wall at the southern end of Ledra Street in Nicosia, the capital, part of the more than 40-year-old buffer zone dividing the island into northern and southern segments.

In January, the Turkish Cypriots removed a footbridge at the northern end of the so-called green line buffer zone along Ledra Street.

“The overnight demolition of the Ledra Street wall in Nicosia’s old town represents a very welcome and positive contribution of great symbolic significance both to efforts to open a crossing point at this historic location and to create a positive atmosphere in which the search for a comprehensive settlement can flourish,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative Michael Møller said in a statement.

He added that the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) is assisting both sides with practical arrangements to move “this much anticipated process” forward and to help implement necessary measure to expedite it.

“Once the sides are in agreement as to the way ahead, UNFICYP will immediately move… to ensure the area’s overall safety in order to facilitate the opening of the crossing as a matter of priority,” the statement said. “This will include measures to shore up dangerous buildings in the immediate buffer zone area, plus a sweep of the area to ensure that it is free of unexploded ordnance.”

In April 2003 UNFICYP opened the first crossing point for members of the two communities to move across the Green Line, since when there have been millions of crossings.

The UN has been involved in the Mediterranean island since 1964 when UNFICYP was set up to prevent a recurrence of inter-communal fighting, contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order, and contribute to a return to normal conditions.

Currently the fourth-oldest UN peacekeeping operation in the world, it seeks to maintain stability in the buffer zone and ensure that there is no alteration of the status quo along the two ceasefire lines drawn in 1974 after renewed fighting.

The Security Council extended its mandate yet again in December until 15 June 2007 after the latest UN report on the island cited the lack of a comprehensive political settlement and voiced concern about the attitudes of both sides. Mr. Ban’s predecessor as Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, presented a settlement plan three years ago but while 65 per cent of Turkish Cypriots voted in favour, it was defeated because 76 per cent of Greek Cypriots voted against.